The Dragons went to the passing game to get up early on #10 Clarke Central, taking a 22-14 win over the Gladiators at Memorial Stadium. #1-ranked Jefferson led 15-0 at the break behind a pair of passing TDs from Gavin Markey.

Jefferson scored on the opening drive on a 44-yd TD pass from Markey to Sammy Brown, and got a 14-yd TD pass from Markey to Christopher Law on the next drive to take a 13-0 lead after the failed point after.

Clarke Central couldn’t penetrate through the first line of defense very often, and had a holding call in the end zone early in the second quarter to give the Dragons a 15-0 lead. Jefferson was driving to end the half before Markey’s pass was picked off by Bartez Gillespie, Jr. inside the 5-yard line.

Eventually, the Gladiators got on the board with a 38-yd TD pass from Chase Berrong to Jaden Cofer, cutting the deficit to 15-7. Jefferson got in the red zone on the ensuing drive, but turned it over on downs at the 17-yard line. However, Brown’s 4-yd TD run on the first play of the fourth made it a 22-7 lead.

The Glads would be turned away at the 4-yard line as Brian Senter came up with a monster stop on 4^th & Goal. Clarke Central would score again with just over a minute left, but the Dragons recovered the onside kick and held on for the 22-14 victory. Jefferson remains unbeaten on the season.